Mister keeping his options open

Mike McAllister

10/23/2013

Three star running back Tommy Mister has been committed to Iowa State for some time. With his senior season winding down, he is looking towards taking a few official visits to make sure the Cyclones are the right fit. He discusses the latest inside.

Tommy Mister's senior season at St. Rita High School in Chicago (Ill.) is closing in on its final games. With a chance to win their conference this week, the three star running back is focused on the task at hand.

"We're playing for conference this week," Mister said. "We lost to Mount Carmel earlier in the year. But Loyala knocked them out so now we have a chance at conference. So it's real intense right now. Loyola is real tough."

One of the reasons St. Rita is having such a strong season is because of the success of Mister. He feels the combination of his skill set and his coaching staff has led to his strong production.

"The coaches put us in a position to win," Mister said. "They changed their whole offense. It went from a power I offense to a shotgun zone-read offense. I've been playing outstanding. I've worked real hard in the offseason to try to earn the fourth star. I'm probably third in the state in rushing.

"I'm second in the state in yards per rush because I'm only getting the ball 10 times per game because I play quarterback. I know I have the most all-purpose yards in the state and the most touchdowns. I've been playing against a bunch of four stars and I've done great against them."

One of Mister's teammates, Lamar Dawson, has been a big reason why the St. Rita defense has helped put the team in position to win their conference.

"Lamar, he's a shutdown," Mister said. "He went up against Nic Weishar. Nic only had two catches the whole game. I think he had a screen and a hitch. Lamar only has like three picks this year but that's because no one throws to his side.

"He just locks it down. We run a cover zone on the other side of the field but they just put him man up like he's Darrelle Revis. He just plays lights out. He plays specials teams and returns kicks and returned two for a touchdown already."

Despite being committed to Iowa State, Mister is keeping his options open. He plans on taking two other official visits, and possibly a third.

"I told my team I wasn't going to do visits during the season," Mister said. "I just wanted to focus on winning states with them. But I know I'm going to take an official to Michigan State, Indiana and maybe Syracuse when Lamar goes. Of course Iowa State. Maybe Notre Dame. I know Michigan State, Indiana and Iowa State for sure right after the season.

"I've been talking to Mizzou a little bit. They kind of fell off once I committed but have been back on me lately. They might be offering me soon."

Syracuse is an intriguing option for Mister because his aforementioned teammate, Lamar Dawson, is already committed to the Orange. Syracuse running backs coach DeAndre Smith stays in contact with Mister regularly to try to get Mister to flip.

"Coach Smith, I've been talking to him," Mister said. "I've been calling him. We've been talking and he's been saying that they want me. That if I decommitted to give them a serious look. Lamar, every day in practice, is talking to me about Syracuse. Trying to get up there and everything.

"I'm not shying away from anything. I'm going to give them a serious look. I'll just wait and see when Lamar takes his official and then I might just tag along on that. Then we'll see how it is down there. Because if I can feel at home somewhere and feel like I can make an immediate impact for that program, I don't see why I wouldn't give them a serious look."

The key for Mister is making sure that Iowa State is the right fit. In order to do that, the three star running back feels it is important to take visits elsewhere.

"I'm a solid verbal right now," Mister said. "I love the coaching staff there. They're amazing. I'm just going to take things because my parents say to make sure this is what I want to do. I just have to make sure I'm not going into Iowa State without weighing my other options.

"My parents want me to weigh my options a little more than I did before I committed. So I'm going to take those officials just to make sure."